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There will certainly be some interesting calculations going on! I think it might get a bit cat and mouse. If I was anyone but Bjorn I think I’d try mixing it up, also knowing he’s had route issues not terrible to have him in front and yourself on a faster average speed if that makes sense.
Will be interesting to see how it unfolds
GoatandTricycle-
Bjorn already 50km down the road.
Assuming no more major routing fails - and the route for the last stage is very straightforward with hardly any variations - he will be second. He is the faster rider and Stephane and the others will know that only too well. While you can jump someone in a sprint, the faster rider should always win out over 500km.
Who will get third? I'd go for Stephane as I don't know the others, he's done it before, and he was first to CP4 so should be freshest.
Edit - Rene and Stephane both left CP4. Rene was slightly ahead but seems to be on rough / small roads. Stephane has made it onto the main road so should go quicker from now. It's a big descent from CP4 so best to do it on longer but smoother roads.
frank9755
Guess it's who's feeling the 'least worst', as skinny might say, out of that gang in CP4. I wonder if someone wants to rest hard at the checkpoint then shoot for the finish in one go and I'd wonder if it is possible too. I know that TABR riders often do a huge day to finish, not sure if that is doable here? If not shoot for the finish then at least do enough consecutive miles to break the spirit of the other riders with a big lead. Bjorn is capable of this obviously, but he's now bought a ticket into this race after having a comfortable lead and, mentally, surely Stephane and Thomas will be feeling in a better place and quite lucky to now have a great chance for second place present itself. It's fascinating to me anyway what happens from now. Edit: there are more riders arriving shortly too...